Glen Strathfarrar Deer Management Group Part 2: Deer Management Plan Information DMG Chairman: Frank Spencer-Nairn Email: [email protected] DMG Secretary: Bidwells Email: [email protected] DMG Treasurer : Clive Meikle DMG Website: http://glenstrathfarrardmg.deer-management.co.uk/ Prepared by: Dr Linzi Seivwright BSc Phd [email protected] Image 1:Glen Strathfarrar Image 2: Regeneration exclosure on Culligran Part 2: Glen Strathfarrar Deer Manage m e n t P l a n Page 1 Information The Third Glen Strathfarrar Deer Management Plan 2016 - 2021 Foreword By Frank Spencer-Nairn The wild Red Deer of the Scottish hills are a mobile shared natural resource; they are not aware of the lines we have drawn on maps and called estate boundaries. Whilst co-operation between estates will always have been an option, collaborative deer management had its origins in the 1960s and gradually became the norm. South Ross was one of the first Deer Management Groups to be formed. As it grew, it split into more manageable units; the Glen Strathfarrar Deer Management Group (GSDMG) is one of these. Neighbouring groups co-operate and communicate with each other and all groups operate under the umbrella of the Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG). In simple terms, the GSDMG is principally based on the catchment area of the River Farrar and the northern part of the River Cannich catchment. Parts of the Orrin and Beauly catchments also fall into the GSDMG. The nine different main landowners take deer management very seriously and are acutely aware of our responsibilities; we are passionate about the land we manage and our rare and precious natural heritage. This is our 3rd five year Deer Management Plan. Whilst it is an important management tool for ourselves, it has also become part of the way deer management is generally being made more transparent and accessible. Part 2: Glen Strathfarrar Deer Manage m e n t P l a n Page 2 Information Contents Image 1:Glen Strathfarrar Image 2: Regeneration exclosure on Culligran ........................................... 1 Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 1: Group Location ..................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2: Deer Management Units ...................................................................................................... 7 2. Deer Populations, Movements and Management .......................................................................................... 9 Figure 3: Actual and Predicted Deer Populations ................................................................................ 9 Table 1: Helicopter Counts ............................................................................................................... 10 Figures 4a and 4b: Stag population wintering per property ................................................................ 11 Table 2: Group and Individual Property Culls. ................................................................................... 11 Figure 5: Historic Group Deer Culls ................................................................................................... 12 3. Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Interests .................................................................................................. 13 Image 2: Distinctive East - West Vegetation Cline on Glen Cannich ................................................. 14 4. Actions to ensure deer welfare is taken fully into account at individual animal and population level. ............ 16 5. Actions to develop mechanisms to manage deer ........................................................................................ 18 6. Actions for the delivery of designated features into Favourable Condition. .................................................. 20 Figure 6a: Designated Sites (SSSI) and associated condition ........................................................... 22 Figure 6b: Designated Sites (SAC, SPA and NSA) ........................................................................... 22 Table 3: Designated features with potential herbivore impacts .......................................................... 24 Table 4. Overall Impacts ................................................................................................................... 25 Table 5. Impacts by Habitat Type ...................................................................................................... 25 Table 6. Impacts by Management Unit .............................................................................................. 25 7. Actions to manage deer to retain existing native woodland cover and improve ............................................ 26 Figure 7: Native Woodland ................................................................................................................ 27 Figure 8: Woodland Grant Schemes ................................................................................................. 27 Table 7: Native Woodland Survey for Scotland Herbivore Impacts .................................................... 28 Table 8: Summary of property contribution. ....................................................................................... 28 8. Actions to demonstrate DMG contribution to the Scottish Government woodland expansion target of 25% woodland cover. .............................................................................................................................................. 29 Table 9: Total Area of Woodland Type (National Forest Inventory) ................................................... 29 Table 10: Summary of Woodland Management Schemes ................................................................. 30 9. Actions to monitor and manage deer impacts in the wider countryside ........................................................ 31 Table 11: Habitat Types and Characteristics ..................................................................................... 32 Table 12: Summary of Blanket Bog and Heather Moor Habitat by Property ...................................... 32 Part 2: Glen Strathfarrar Deer Manage m e n t P l a n Page 3 Information Figure 9: Habitat distribution across DMG ......................................................................................... 33 10. Actions to improve Scotland’s ability to store carbon by maintaining or improving ecosystem health. ........ 34 Image 3: Existing exclosure on Braulen ............................................................................................ 36 11. Actions to reduce or mitigate the risk of establishment of invasive non-native species .............................. 36 12. Actions to protect designated historic and cultural features from being damaged by deer e.g. by trampling. ........................................................................................................................................................................ 37 Image 4: Newly opened up woodland on Culligran ............................................................................ 39 13. Actions to contribute to delivering higher standards of competence in deer management.......................... 39 14. Actions to Identify and promote opportunities contributing to public health and wellbeing. ......................... 40 Image 5: Young stag in woodland ..................................................................................................... 42 15. Actions to maximise economic benefits associated with deer .................................................................... 42 Image 6: Deer grazing on Braulen ..................................................................................................... 44 16. Actions to minimise the economic costs of deer, and ensure deer management is cost-effective .............. 44 17. Actions to ensure effective communication on deer management issues. .................................................. 45 18. Management Units: Braulen Estate ........................................................................................................... 46 19. Management Units: Culligran ..................................................................................................................... 50 20. Management Units: East Benula North ...................................................................................................... 55 21. Management Units: East Monar Estate ...................................................................................................... 58 22. Management Units: Erchless ..................................................................................................................... 62 23. Management Units: Farley Estate .............................................................................................................. 65 24. Management Units: Glen Cannich Estate .................................................................................................. 69 25. Management Units: Struy Estate ............................................................................................................... 73 26. West Monar and Pait Estates